JP2008531259A - Support device for internal structure of reaction vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention is a support device for use with a reaction vessel that forms an reactor zone and includes an inlet and operator passageway that provides an opening in the reactor zone. The support device includes a worker passage insert supported by an inlet and worker passage, which extends through the opening in the inlet and worker passage and into the reactor zone. Attachment means for connecting the support hanger to the worker passage insert and for transmitting a load from the support hanger to the worker passage insert is attached to the worker passage insert. The support hanger has an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the upper end portion is fixedly attached to the attachment means, and the lower end portion is fixedly attached to the support structure means for supporting the load.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a specific reactor internal structure in a reaction vessel.

  Downflow reactors are commonly used in the chemical and refining industries for catalytic processes such as hydroprocessing, hydrocracking, hydrodesulfurization, hydrofinishing, and hydrodewaxing. A typical downflow reactor is a vessel with a feedstock inlet and a reactor effluent outlet. A catalyst particle bed that is brought into contact with the feedstock introduced into the container is housed in the container.

  In order to distribute the feed fluid over the entire cross section of the catalyst bed, it is often the case that a feed distribution tray is incorporated and placed in the downflow reaction vessel between the point where the feed is introduced into the reaction vessel and the catalyst particle bed. It is advantageous. A common method of incorporating a feed distribution tray into a reaction vessel is by attaching or connecting the feed distribution tray or its support structure to the inner wall of the reaction vessel. This connection is often done by welding the attachment to the inner wall of the reaction vessel. However, securing these internal structures of the reactor to the inside of the reactor wall can be an inadequate way to support the feed distributor in the reaction vessel. For example, welding to the inner wall of a hydroprocessing reactor using a hydrogen sensitive weld overlay material may cause cracks in the weld overlay material, which can lead to other problems.

  The problem of securing the reactor internal structure to the inner wall of the reaction vessel can be solved by a new support device that supports the reactor internal structure inside the reaction vessel without securing the support device to the reactor inner wall. .

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a support device for supporting the reactor internal structure in the reaction vessel without fixing the support device to the inner wall of the reactor.

  Accordingly, a support device for use with a reaction vessel is provided, the reaction vessel having an inner wall defining a reaction zone that can contain a bed of catalyst particles and an inlet and worker passage that provides an opening into the reaction zone. Prepare. The support device includes an operator passage insert having an insert upper end and an insert lower end. The operator passage insert can extend through the opening and into the reaction zone. The support device further includes a support hanger and a support structure, the support hanger has a hanger upper end portion and a hanger lower end portion, and the hanger upper end portion is fixedly connected to the insert lower end portion, and the support structure is a fluid. The distributor tray can be supported and fixedly connected to the lower end of the hanger.

  The present invention relates to a device for supporting a specific internal structure of a downflow reactor, and it is not necessary to fix the support device to the inner wall of the reactor.

  FIG. 1 shows a vertical sectional view of a reaction vessel 10 provided with a support device 12. The reaction vessel 10 may be any suitable type of vessel that forms a reaction zone 14 that may include a catalyst particle bed 16 that is contacted with a feedstock. Reaction zone 14 includes both an inlet / fluid distribution zone 17 and a bed 16 that generally forms the zone where the process reaction takes place. The inner wall 18 of the reaction vessel 10 forms a reaction zone 14 that includes a bed 16 of catalyst particles.

  The reaction vessel 10 comprises an inlet / worker passage 20 and an outlet / worker passage or reactor effluent outlet 22. The inlet / worker passage 20 has an inner wall 24 of the worker passage that forms an opening or conduit that allows entry or passage through the reaction zone 14 from the outside. Thus, the entrance / worker passage 20 provides a means for communicating between the exterior and interior of the reaction vessel 10. The reactor effluent outlet 22 provides a means for removing the reactor effluent from the reaction zone 14 in the reaction vessel 10.

  The support device 12 includes an operator passage insert 26, a support hanger 28, and a support structure 30. The support hanger 28 includes a hanger upper end portion 32 and a hanger lower end portion 34. The support hanger 28 provides a means for transmitting the load from the support structure 30 and the object supported on the support structure 30 to the operator passage insert 26. Thus, in most cases, the support hanger 28 is tense. The hanger lower end 34 is fixedly connected to the support structure 30 by any suitable connecting means for connecting the hanger lower end 34 to the support structure 30. Examples of the connecting means include welding and connection using any other known means for connecting bolts or metal parts.

  In order for the support device 12 in the reaction vessel 10 to be manufactured off-site and individually assembled, the connecting means is preferably a plate 36 that is secured to the support structure 30 by welding, which plate 36 is It is equipped with a hole for inserting a bolt. The hanger lower end 34 further includes a hole that matches the hole of the plate 36 through which the bolt passes, thereby providing a connecting means for fixing and connecting the hanger lower end 34 to the support structure 30. However, it will be appreciated that any other suitable means for securing and connecting the hanger lower end 34 to the support structure 30 may be used.

  Referring now to FIG. 2, an enlarged cross-sectional view of the detail 40 shown in FIG. 1 is depicted. The enlarged cross-section detail 40 shows the entrance / worker passage 20 and a portion of the support device 12 (the support device 12 is shown in its entirety in FIG. 1). An upper end 32 and a clamp 42 are included. The hanger upper end 32 is fixedly connected to the worker passage insert 26 by a clamp 42.

  The worker passage insert 26 has an insert outer wall 43, an insert inner wall 44, an insert upper end portion 45, and an insert lower end portion 46. Although the clamp 42 is used to fasten the hanger top 32 to the worker passage insert 26, any suitable coupling means for fastening the hanger top 32 to the worker passage insert 26 can be used. Is understood. Such connection means may include welding or connection using any other suitable means for connecting bolts or metal parts.

  A plate 48 with holes through which bolts can be inserted is secured to the clamp 42. The hanger upper end 32 can further comprise a hole 50 that can fit into the hole in the plate 48, providing a connecting means for securing and connecting the hanger upper end 32 to the clamp 42 through a bolt. The clamp 42 can be removable or removable to allow off-site manufacturing that can be assembled separately and installed in the reaction vessel 10.

  The clamp 42 or any other connecting means for securing the hanger upper end 32 to the operator passage insert 26 is preferably located at the insert lower end 46. When the clamp 42 is used as a connecting means for securing the support hanger 28 to the operator passage insert 26, a groove 52 is machined into the outer surface of the lower end 46 of the insert and the corresponding or corresponding projection 54 is clamped. 42 are preferably fitted together to form a joint for connecting the clamp 42 to the lower end 46 of the insert.

  As described above, the inlet and worker passage 20 has a worker passage inner wall 24 that forms a conduit or opening into the reaction zone 12. Thus, the worker passage insert 26 can extend through the worker passage conduit into the reaction zone 14, with the end of the insert lower end 46 within the reaction zone 14.

  The insert upper end 45 may further include a flange 56 that extends horizontally outward from the insert outer wall 43, and the flange 56 sits on a surface 58 of the inlet and operator passage flange 60. The surface 58 of the inlet / operator passage flange 60 provides a support surface on which the flange 56 can rest. Thus, the flange 56 provides a means for transmitting loads from the support structure 30 and the object supported thereon to the inlet and operator passage 20 via the support device 12.

  In a preferred embodiment, the surface 58 is provided with means for forming a ring joint with an opposing operator passage cover flange (not shown). Examples of such means include grooves or bevels machined or formed in the surface 58. This groove or bevel fits opposite the groove or bevel machined or formed in the face of the opposing operator passage cover flange. A ring joint gasket is placed in the groove or bevel on the face 58 and the opposite groove or bevel on the face of the opposite operator passage cover flange so that a ring joint is formed when the two flanges are joined. It can also be arranged. If the spacing between the face 58 and the face of the operator passage cover flange opposite the face 58 is not sufficient to place the flange 56 on the face 58 to form the ring joint, a wider ring joint gasket may be used. An opposing worker passage cover flange may be used, or alternatively, a flange 56 may be disposed on the surface 58 and the flange 60 joined to the opposite worker passage cover flange to provide the desired ring joint. A chamber may be formed on the surface.

  In a preferred embodiment, the worker passage inner wall 24 has a cylindrical shape that can be characterized by a diameter, more preferably, the insert outer wall 43 is proximate to and extends along the worker passage inner wall 24, and more preferably, The insert outer wall 43 is substantially flush with the worker passage inner wall 24. Also preferably, the insert inner wall 44 forms a conduit through which fluid can be introduced into the reaction zone 14 or the feedstock inlet pipe is extended through the conduit to react fluid from the outside. Means can be provided for introduction into the zone 14.

  Reference is now made to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction vessel 10 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. A clamp 42 is shown on which a plate 48 is secured. Plate 48 provides a means for securing and connecting hanger upper end 32 of support hanger 28 to operator passage insert 26. As described above, in a preferred embodiment, the plate 48 and the hanger top 32 have holes that are adapted to be connected through bolts. With this type of connection, the individual parts of the support device 12 are manufactured at a location remote from the location of the reaction vessel 10 and the individual parts of the support device 12 are later individually separated within the reaction zone 14 of the reaction vessel 10. It becomes possible to assemble.

  Clamp 42 is secured to operator passage insert 26 using a hole-bolt connection 62. The hole-bolt connection 62 allows the clamp 42 to be assembled separately in the reaction zone 14 with other parts of the support device 12 that are manufactured separately. The connection shown is a so-called hole-bolt connection, but it will be appreciated that any other suitable connection means may be used in the support device 12.

  Support hanger 28 extends downwardly from operator passage insert 26 to skirt 64 of support structure 30 (not shown in FIG. 3). The skirt 64 may be a structural element that extends along and close to the inner wall 18 of the reaction vessel 10. The skirt 64 is provided with means for attaching the other elements constituting the support structure 30 and a fluid distributor tray (not shown) for distributing the reactor feed liquid over the surface and cross section of the catalyst particle bed 16, for example. And a means for supporting various types of reactor internal equipment.

  The skirt 64 can be a flat plate that is a structural element having a flat surface 66, which can be coplanar with the inner wall 18, and the skirt 64 can have one or more flanges. You may prepare. Further, a sealing means (not shown) is provided between the inner wall 18 and the flat surface 66 for sealing a space between the inner wall 18 of the reaction vessel 10 and the flat surface 66 of the skirt 64. Excessive fluid flow through the formed space is prevented. Any suitable material or means can be used to form this seal. The skirt 64 may also be any other suitable structural element that can provide support means for supporting a load, such as the distribution tray system described above. The hanger lower end portion 34 of the support hanger 28 extends downwardly away from the worker passage insert 26 and is fixedly connected to the skirt 64.

  The support device 12 of the present invention will be further described. FIG. 4 shows a cutaway perspective view of the reaction vessel 10 and shows the support device 12 related to the reaction vessel 10. As shown, the reaction vessel 10 includes an inlet and worker passage 20 that provides an opening to the interior of the reaction vessel 10. The worker passage insert 26 is supported by the inlet and worker passage 20 at the flange surface 58. The worker passage insert 26 extends through an opening formed by the entrance and worker passage 20 into the reaction vessel 10, and the reaction vessel 10 has an end of an insert lower end 46 of the worker passage insert 26. A clamp 42 is fastened to the lower end portion 46 of the insert. The clamp 42 provides a means for connecting the support hanger 28 to the worker passage insert 20 and a means for transmitting a load from the support hanger 28 to the worker passage insert 20.

  Each support hanger 28 has a hanger upper end 32 and a hanger lower end 34. The hanger upper end 32 is fixedly attached to the clamp 42, and the hanger lower end 34 is fixedly attached to a skirt 64 that is a part of the support structure 30 (see FIG. 1). The support structure 30 preferably provides a means for supporting loads arising from reactor internal devices such as fluid distributor trays. The skirt 64 extends along the circumference of the inner wall 18 of the reaction vessel 10. The support structure 30 may further comprise additional support members, such as one or more beams 68, which extend horizontally and are secured to the inner periphery of the skirt 64 at each end thereof.

  While specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein, appropriate modifications, changes and adaptations within the scope of the claims and disclosure may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. It is understood that it can be done.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a reaction vessel and a support device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing the upper part of the support device and the inlet / worker passage of the reaction vessel shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction vessel and support device taken along line 3-3 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the reaction vessel broken to show the support device included in the reaction vessel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reaction container 12 Support apparatus 14 Reaction zone 16 Catalyst particle bed 20 Entrance and worker passage 28 Support hanger 30 Support structure

Claims (11)

A support device for use with a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel having an inner wall defining a reaction zone that may include a bed of catalyst particles, and an inlet and worker passage that provides an opening in the reaction zone; The support device is
An operator passage insert having an insert upper end and an insert lower end and extending through the opening into the reaction zone;
A support hanger having a hanger upper end and a hanger lower end, wherein the hanger upper end is fixedly connected to the insert lower end;
A support structure capable of supporting the fluid distributor tray and fixedly coupled to the lower end of the hanger;
A support device comprising:   The support device according to claim 1, further comprising support means for transmitting the load from the support device to the support surface.   The support device according to claim 2, wherein an attaching means for connecting the upper end portion of the hanger to the lower end portion of the insert is fixed to the lower end portion of the insert.   The support device of claim 3, wherein the support structure further comprises a skirt extending along the inner wall.   The support device according to claim 4, wherein the support means includes a flange that extends outward from the worker passage insert and is seated on the support surface.   6. The support device of claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises a removable clamp for connecting the hanger upper end and transmitting a load to the operator passage insert. A support device for use with a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel having a reactor inner wall forming a reaction zone that may contain a catalyst particle bed and an operator forming a worker passage conduit into the reaction zone An entrance and worker passage having a passage inner wall, the support device,
An insert having an insert outer wall, an insert inner wall forming an insert conduit, an insert upper end, and an insert lower end, the insert extending through the operator passage conduit and into the reaction zone; The insert with the end of the lower end of the insert in the reaction zone;
A support hanger having a hanger upper end and a hanger lower end, wherein the hanger upper end is fixedly connected to the insert lower end;
Support structure means fixedly coupled to the lower end of the hanger and for supporting a load;
A support device comprising:   The support apparatus of claim 7, wherein the support structure further comprises a skirt extending along the reactor inner wall.   The support device according to claim 8, wherein the outer wall of the insert extends along the inner wall of the worker passage.   The support device according to claim 9, wherein the worker passage conduit has a cylindrical shape. A distributor tray support device for use with a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel forming a reactor zone and having an inlet and operator passage providing an opening into the reactor zone, the distributor The tray support device
An operator passage insert supported by the inlet and worker passage and extending into the reactor zone through the opening in the inlet and worker passage;
An attachment means for attaching a support hanger to the worker passage insert and for transmitting a load from the support hanger to the worker passage insert is attached to the worker passage insert;
The support hanger has an upper end and a lower end;
The distributor tray supporting device, wherein the upper end portion is fixedly attached to the attaching means, and the lower end portion is fixedly attached to a distributor tray supporting structure means for supporting the distributor tray.